Laundry-identifying device



Jan. 6, 1931- F. M. STEINER 1,788,211

LAUNDRY IDENTIFYING DEVICE Filed Aug. 14, 1929 A-rro RNEYJ! Patented Jan. 6, 1931 I FRANK M. s'rnrnna; or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA ,LnuixinaY-rnnnriryrne DEVICE Application filed August 14, 1929. Serial No. 385,871.

This invention relates to improvements in which can be quicklyapplied to and removed from the goods, and which will not be 'de tached from the goods in the wa-sl1,and which is perpetually, indelible.

To properlyv understand the problems of this art, it is necessaryto note the devices in at present used for marking laundry. l/Vhat may be aptly referred to as the bane of the laundry manlsexistence is the disappearance or loss of the laundry identifying means during the laundering period. This loss-results either from the detachment of the mark or from fading of the mark as when produced by'so-called indelible ink. For many years, laundry men have "been trying to keep their goods permanently marked. r i 7 There are a number of different devices or methods used by laundries for marking the fabrics, and none of them are perfectly satisfactory. One method is to mark the customers initials or account numberdirectly on the goods. This is generally done by the use of a thin so-called indelible ink. Some of these'marks remain over a considerable period of time, and others fade out Very quickly. The degree of fading depends upon the kind of goods, the kind of ink,-and the way in which the fabrics are washed. Markers are kept busy inspecting each piece to see if it is properly marked, and it is common practice to line over a mark'which has partly faded. In lining over the partly fadedidentifying characters it is often done so careless. ly that the identification is lost'in' this-mam nor. Faded indicia is hard. to read, particu larly if numerals are used, and sometimes in retracting, the number is changed. r r

Another method is to stamp the name or initials onthe goods with a marking machine, using so-called indelible ink. It is commonly noted that a mark of this kind is not as permanent as one hand-penned. Theapplication by pen seems toobtain a better penetra tion of the ink.; 1 p

Another method is to. use a cloth-covered metal clip, which clasps over the edge of the inadvertently I goods and is pinched to cause a frictionalengagement. Of course, in using these cloth: covered metal clips it is necessary to place the mark on the cloth by hand as with a pen, and of course there is then the usualobjece, tionof fading. Another objection is that the clips come off during the washing operation, V and thus the identifying mark islosta The disengagement of these clips is partly due tothe character'ofthe goods, and partly due to the thickness of the goods and the lack of care with which the clips are put on. r

In another method,pins'are used having numbers punched thereon, one pin being attachedto each piece of goods. If the customer, for example, sends in fifty pieces of laundry, pins in like numberand each having a different number are pinned one to each 7 piece "of goods. However, the pins have" to be taken off during the ironing operation to avoid marring of the linen. and crushing of the pins and then the pins have to be put on again after ironing. Then the particular batch must be bundled and the pins are again removed and then the bundle wrapped for delivery. The removed pins must be sorted numerically so that they may be conveniently used to mark other batches of Wash. These are very timefconsuming operations.

Where a linen supply company'is supplying wearing apparel and laundering it, it is, of course, necessary to identify each garment. However, "for various reasons the marks on these garments have to be changed. For ex ample, the customer may wish to change from one style toanother, in which case it is desirable .to remove the marks from' the discardedstyle and use these garments in service for another party; In this instance, an identifying mark for the second party will have to take the place of the first mark. It is, therefore, desirable to have a mark which will not only remain attached and be indelible,'but which can be attached quickly, as well as removed quickly.

" Moreover, laundry and linen supply company customers changefrom one laundry to another, and for each change the new laundry must place one of their own identifying marks on thegoods. For example, in traveling a customer will send his linen to a different laundry where the mark is changed; It

is, therefore, evident that it would be highly the present invention )rovides such a device.

Speed is a big factor in 111arking,-amil demarking, IHHSIHllChfl-Stilfi-ltl flfe oftenas many as twenty-five to fifty thousand pieces han died in a few days.

From the above considerations, it will be evident that laundries have sought 111mm for a permanentlyindelible mark which can be quickly attached and detached, and which WlllStflY put. The present invention contemplates the use of a metal tag having the identifying indicia punched thereiinthema terial of the tag being thin and flexible and of such'texture that 'it can 'be attached to the goods by stitching, for example machine stitching, including lock and chain stitch;

The invention also contemplates the use of a fabric/mark in which the indicia is produced by punching to form openings through the material, and inwhich the mat al to which the tagis attached and the material of the tag are of different colors to accentuate the outline ofthe cut-outs; For example, a white fabric markerhaving the cut-out indicia'can be. secured to a colored material so that that material will show through the cut-onts to accentuate the mark, by contrast.

Objects, advantages and features of the invention will be further'se't forth in the de scription of the drawings, and in said draw ingsz Figure 1 is a plan view showing a piece of washable fabric having the thin identifying tag of non-'corrodible metal machinestitched thereto, in this instance by applying the stitching marginally; v Figure-2 is a section of Figure 1 further illustrating the device and roughly indicating the relative thicknesses o1 fabric and tag;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing'a metal tag formed from fine mesh screen and having the identifying indicia. formed by punching out portions of the material;

Figure his a section of Figure 3 showing the wire meshtag applied to the fabric :and roughly illustrating the differences in thicknesses between the materials of the tag and goods to which the is attached.- Itlwill be understood that this difference in thickness ordinarily occurs because it is most cesirablc that the metal tag have great tlexibility; -Figure 5 is a view illustrating a fabrictag in which the indicia are produced by cutting openings,- and in which tag and goods are of different colors, to contrast or accentuate the mark; v p

Figure 6 is a section of Figure "5:;

and

Figure 8 shows a view of the button'type .tag wherein two sets of thread-receiving openings are used. 7

In the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates any kind of washable fabric having; attached thereto 'a thin, flexible metal tag 2. The attachment is made by means of machine stitching .cl agrammatlcally indicated at 3, the said stitching being marginally applied,

Numeral i indicates the identifying indicia which maybe of-any suitable nature and which is in this instance formed by punching,

to produce embossed or raised characters. in a device of this kind tIls necessary that the metall'ic material be non corrodible, and the metals usable are aluminum copper metal alloys, galvanized material, and brass. It is, of course, evident that there are other noncorro'diblemetal alloys which are both cheap and eliicient forthe purpose herein.- There is no'intention to be limited to the particular character of the metal as long as it is substantially non-'corrodible and sutlieiently thin to proyidethe necessary flexibility. It is desirable that the metal be comparatively soft to permit its attachmentiby machine stitching, either by overcasting or*by lock or chain stitching. However, the metal should be capable of being punched and/or embossed, and suiiiciently rigid so that the embossing indicia will not be flattened by pressure during a laundering operation. It is evident that by the use of stitching the tags-can be rapidly attached and that the tag can be substantially asrapidly removed by cutting the stitching. The thicknesses of metal thus far used are within the range of from 1/1000 to 1/2000 of an inch. Although it has not been shown int-he drawings, it may be advisable to smooth the edges as by marginal folding, this is particularlydesirable when the metal tag is attached to that portionof a collar which engages the neck. It is evident'that a mark of this kind is permanent and will not fade out. '(ftooc'ls bearing the tags of the kind described herein have been sent through the laundry on washable goods and have been thoroughly washed and subjected to the chemical action of all the'substanc-es ordinarily used-in laundering. The goods carrying thectags have been putthrongh various kinds of laundry machines. commonly used in the laundry indnst j, and the marks have in all instance-s remained attached and the; indicia has remained clca r.

Figure '3 illustrates a tag formed from screening-6. A fine mesh"pearl screening has been used. This is a galvanized product. In this case, the portions of the screen are punched out as at 7 and theopeniirg-s define the indicia. This is also a quite fie ible material and it hasbeen found to give entire SatlSffiC'tlOH in the same manner as forthe first lines by means ofsmall p unchings.

Figure 5 illust 'ates a modification in which a fabric tag 91s. used. In this lnstance, the

tag has been represented as of white ma-' terial and portions of'the tag have been I punched out as at to define the identifying indicia. The tag is attached as in other cases by machine stitching indicated at 11. The fabric 12 in this case is lined for the color blue and a portion of the fabric shows through the punched out openings 10. It will, of course, be'understood that any combination of colors can be had, and that the tag 9 may be of a suitable color and the fabric 12 be of white material. In either event, a contrasting mark will be obtained.

In my long experience in this art, no one to my knowledge has ever conceived of using a tag.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my meanswhichthe laundrying process will not destroy, said tag bein of such thinness and softness as to be reac ily' penetrable by the needle of a sewing machine, and machine stitching securing the two together within the margin of thejfabric. r

3. In combination with a piece of fabric, a metal tag disclosing identifying means which a laundrying process will not destroy, said tag being of such thinness and softness as to be readily penetrable by the needle of a sewing machine, and machine stitching securing the two together, said stitching being applied in a mannerto substantially prevent lifting or bending back of the margins of the my hand this 8th day of August, 1929.

. v FRANK M. STEINER.

metal tag, and of attaching it by machine stitching. For many years, many workers, in this line have wished and sought for a permanently indelible laundry mark which could be quickly attached and detached. Therefore, over a long period of years and in this active art, the problem has not, to my knowledge, ever been solved to meet all contingencies.

It will be noted that there are certain metals usable for the purposes herein, which are of a color which contrast with many fabrics, and therefore the color contrast scheme can be carried out by use of a metal tag in the same manner as described for that formof the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring to Figure 7 which shows a tag of the button type, numeral 14 indicates the fabric, 15 the metal tag,'l6 the stitch-receiving openings and 17 the stitching. This form of tag is secured to the goods by the'use of a but-ton sewing machine.

In Figure 8 the button-like tag 20 is elonmarginal stitching being continuous and extending completely around all sides ofthe tam a. In combination with a piece of textile fabric, a metal tag disclosing identifying 

